DC’s top blog for live concert reviews
Alkaline Trio performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Oct. 30, 2021. (Photos by Shedrick Pelt)
On Saturday, a weekend of ghoulish guests and things that go bump in the night, rock music took center stage at The Fillmore in Silver Spring during a jointly-headlined tour stop with Bad Religion and Alkaline Trio, two forefathers of the punk rock revival of the early-to-mid 90s.
H.E.R. performs at The Anthem on Oct 25, 2021. (Photos by Shedrick Pelt; Words by Emily Goodman)
Monday night saw the much-anticipated return of H.E.R. to the District for her October run of the “Back of My Mind Tour.”
On a drizzly autumn evening at The Wharf, a stylish crowd gathered in front of The Anthem in a long, winding line, excitedly awaiting entry to the sold-out show. The return of live music and the chance to see our favorite artists on tour once again (or for the first time) has been a humbling thrill. The Anthem and music venues across DC have made valiant efforts to protect live music goers and show that public health is possible – requiring that masks be worn indoors and that all patrons show proof of vaccination to attend shows.
With this reassurance in mind, H.E.R. fans from across the DMV packed The Anthem to the gills, ready to vibe with their favorite artist.
Boldy James in his element at Songbyrd Music House on Oct 6, 2021. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)
Bo knows football and baseball but Boldy knows rap. Boldy knows the “Drug Zone” in Detroit and James Jones aka Boldy James knows exactly what his diehard fans want when he stops through a venue like Songbyrd Music House in Washington DC Wednesday night.
J. Cole performs during his ‘Off-Season Tour’ at Capital One Arena on Oct 4, 2021. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)
It’s the 4th quarter, you’re down by 2 and the game is on the line, who better to pass the ball to for the game winning shot other than Grammy award winning, label owner, and hip-hop Icon Jermaine Lamarr Cole aka J. Cole.
After a two year live performance hiatus Cole returns to Capital One Arena in Washington DC Monday (Oct 4th) for the 8th stop along his highly anticipated nationwide outing The Off-Season Tour. The tour features frequent collaborator 21 Savage, upcoming Dreamville artist Morray, and rising comedian/social media star Druski. No surprise that the 20,000+ capacity venue was filled to the rafters with anxious Cole stans chanting “Dreamville, Dreamville, Dreamville!” in-between each openers set. The stadium was on fire quite literally and figuratively.
Young Dolph & Key Glock perform at The Fillmore Silver Spring on March 1, 2020. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)
Class is in session! Welcome to the No Rules Tour, led by Memphis OG Young Dolph and his cousin-slash-protégé Key Glock. A trap-rap classroom that teaches us how to stay down for the homies, never forget where you came from, ask for forgiveness instead of permission, and above all else, KEEP IT REAL!
Almost a year removed from their 2019 street-certified surprise collaboration Dum & Dummer, a project inundated with gritty punchlines and witty banter over 22 tracks, the two Ten-a-key (Tennessee) rappers enthusiastically embarked on a nationwide tour with a stop here in the DMV recently at The Fillmore Silver Spring.
Cam’ron (Killa Cam) celebrates the release of his album Purple Haze 2 at the Howard Theater on Feb. 20, 2020. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)
Every community has its ghost, myths, and legends. Moments and people on the timeline, whether good or bad, that define the way of life for the folks that live there. More often than not the historians that safeguard these precious stories, re-envision them using soliloquies and rhyming quips to narrate the epic events.
England has William Shakespeare — and Harlem, New York, has Cameron Giles, aka Killa Cam.
Jasiah performs at Songbyrd Music House on Feb. 15, 2020. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)
On any given day, surrounding yourself with people who love and support your art will make even your wildest dreams seem attainable. That love can nurture your creativity and make even your darkest fantasies come true.
EarthGang performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Feb. 12, 2020. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)
The most courageous and enlightening part about the journey of life is the opportunity to understand more about yourself and more about what you’re capable of achieving. Self reflection goes beyond merely listing the positives and negatives of your daily pursuit. You have to activate change. You have to “spread love,” and one of the best examples in hip hop of activating destiny is Atlanta rap duo EarthGang and their Welcome To Mirrorland Tour.
DRUM TAO performs at Strathmore Music Center on Feb. 7, 2020. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)
The drum, a percussion tool sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands, is one of the most recognizable and established instruments in any tribal community. You might say the drum is the heartbeat of the tribe. Those who wield it and those hypnotized by its depth are led to reach into their souls and find peace and harmony in the lowest of its tones.
Lupe Fiasco performs at the Kennedy Center on Nov. 14, 2019. (Photo by Jati Lindsay)
To be resurrected is to be reborn, reinvented, reinvigorated — and not only in the physical form. Your soul too can reconnect with something you may or may not recognize you lost. As creatives, in an ever-changing DIY landscape, we are constantly tiptoeing the line between the life and death of our art. Luckily, our forefathers like Lupe Fiasco have made and taken the hits for us, making our paths a little less treacherous — as seen recently at the Kennedy Center.
Angel K
AJ Waugh
ambienteye
Ari Strauss
Andy Jillson
Brenda Reyes
Chester Simpson
chriscastilloweb
Chris R. Smyth
Casey Vock
Daniel Webb
David LaMason
EDMit it
Shantel M Breen
isaiahhattix
Jason Nicholson "Le Mouton Flâneur"
jesternate
julesontheroadphotos
jwillview
kristiechua
marcshea2
Mark Caicedo
Mark Engleson
Mathew Harkins
Corey Paterson
mdxpc
Mickey McCarter
Miyun Park
Neal Keller
Parklifer
Kyle Gustafson
paivi
Rebecca
regardingtess
Robert Smith
shedrick pelt
theeternalname
Matt Ruppert
Will Colbert
Andrew Goodwin
Rick_Taylor1972
Parklife DC 